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Civic Lawmaking: The Case of the Domestic Violence Movement in Japan
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 14 March 2025
Abstract
The domestic violence (DV) movement in Japan demonstrates one way civil society can influence national policy. The leadership of the DV movement built a large and diverse coalition representing more than 50 DV-related organizations all over Japan, which generated expertise on the ground, autonomy to focus on the issue, and an electoral opportunity for DV law reformers. DV leaders also developed an effective alliance with bipartisan female politicians. By turning their demands into 179 questions addressed to government bureaucrats, they generated responses that enabled women in politics to exercise effective pressure in favor of change. Analyzing this new type of activism, which I call “civic lawmaking,” offers a close look at a fresh form of legislative advocacy and deepens our understanding of the state-society relationship in Japan.
Keywords
DV: Domestic violenceDPJ: Democratic Party of JapanJICHIRO: All-Japan Prefectural and Municipal Workers Union (Zennihon Jichi Dantai Rodo Kumiai)LDP: Liberal Democratic PartyNWCA: National Women Counselors Association (Zenkoku Fujin Sōdan-in Renraku Kyogikai)NSN: National Shelter Network (Zenkoku Josei Sherutā Netto)The Coalition: Revise Domestic Violence Law National Network (DV hō o kaisei shiyō Zenkoku Nettowāku)
- Type
- Research Article
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- Copyright © The Authors 2018
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